GSW men surrounds Sargent with scorers, penetrators

Rick Russell said the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes have a
particular way they end practice.

Right before they break, they chant the win number they're going
for - like now it's one as they prepare to play Puerto Rico-Cayey
on Saturday in Valdosta to open the season.

"We're trying to shock the Peach Belt this year," said Russell.
"Last year everybody was pretty much beating up on us. They still
think it will be like that this year, and they'll be in for a rude
awakening."

For starters, the Peach Belt has two teams in the top five
nationally to open the year - USC-Aiken at No. 1 and Augusta State
at No. 5.

Georgia Southwestern, which finished next-to-last a season ago,
was picked to finish seventh in the Peach Belt Conference. And
being declared a full member of Division II, the Hurricanes can now
play in the conference tournament, as long as they finish in the
top 10 (11 teams in the conference).

They only have two starters back from last year's team - Russell
and All-Conference performer Anthony Sargent - but coach Mike
Leeder said that adds up to be a much-improved team awaiting Peach
Belt opponents.

"I think we've closed the gap," said Leeder. "I thought we were
pretty far away last year. If we play well and do the things we
emphasize, I certainly think we can work our way a click or two
higher than seventh place."

The Hurricanes have almost completely turned over the roster
this season. Aaron Wyatt and Travis Owsley were released from their
scholarships and are now at Campbellsville and Kentucky Wesleyan,
and Fred Jackson was dismissed from the team during last season.

The additions of Marcus Scott, Damayrius Adside and Chris Rawls
among others will give Sargent some help scoring-wise.

"Last year if it was not Aaron or Anthony, we wouldn't score,"
said Leeder. "We have more options. We're much deeper, we have some
very good ball handlers and guys who can get to the basket. We've
also upgraded around the basket."

Scott scored 28 points in the team's 69-68 exhibition loss
against The Citadel. Damayrius Adside chipped in with 15 and Evan
Mobley scored 13. Leeder expects both Scott and Adside to be strong
guards who can penetrate, rebound and knock down the open shot.
Mobley, who redshirted last year, is expected to be a valuable
player at the point guard position.

Sargent struggled at times with toe injury, but he finished atop
the conference in scoring (22.0) and was second in steals (1.88).
Leeder said Sargent's conditioning compared with last year is like
night and day.

"He took possessions off defensively because we had to have his
energy on offense," he said. "He's a really good passer, and last
year he had nobody to pass it to. He's done a good job in practice
and he's back to dunking the ball. I don't think he'll get 22
points a game, but he will be a much better basketball player."

GSW had three different skids of four, five and eight games last
season. It lost five games by seven points or less, including two
against Augusta State, which played in the national championship
game.

Leeder said a lot of it was from bad defense. The Hurricanes
were last in the conference in field-goal and 3-point percentage
defense.

"Without question it was the most disappointed I've ever been in
coaching a team defensively," he said. "We were never able to get
the point across to that group. But I think we'll be better this
year. They've done a good job grasping what we want to do and
buying into the way we've always been successful."

GSW still doesn't have a lot of size in the post, garnering two
players at 6-foot-7 and one at 6-6. But Leeder said athleticism
will make up for the lack of size. Rawls led the Florida Community
College Activities Association in rebounding two years ago before
taking a two-year absence from basketball.

Rick Russell said the athleticism and depth will lead to quicker
double teams and force opponents to give up the ball more try to
score more from the perimeter.

"We'll make up for it with our length and defensive tenacity,"
he said. "We're approaching it more that defense wins games, and we
have to come out with that mindset every time. We know we can
score. With any unit we have in, we should be able to keep clicking
and not lose a beat."

Only three of their first eight games are at home, and the
Hurricanes will play one conference game before January - at Lander
on Dec. 15.

Russell said the Hurricanes' biggest concern starting the season
will be communication.

"We need to stay together as a team," he said. "It will lead to
better defensive assignments and we wouldn't have to stay
man-to-man so much. Everbody's jelled greatly together, and there's
no attitudes on this team. It's like a family."